Thou knowest all the past—how long and blindly
On the dark mountains the lost wanderer strayed,
How the good Shepherd followed, and how kindly
He bore it home upon his shoulders laid,
And healed the bleeding wounds, and soothed the pain,
And brought back life, and hope, and strength again.
Thou knowest all the present—each temptation,
Each toilsome duty, each foreboding fear;
All to myself assigned of tribulation,
Or to belovèd ones than self more dear!